To misquote Andrea Bianchi’s infamous Burial Ground film “mother, this album smells of death.” Whilst shuffling ghouls in rotting rags mercilessly stalk their hapless prey and childult actor Peter Bark takes a bite out of his loving mother’s breast, one gets the same sort of rancid vibe out of this Italian cult band’s sixth album. It sounds like it could have been recorded in a vast mausoleum as its crypt-crawling sermons are unveiled on the unsuspecting. Over various nights of terror ‘Shrine Of The Black Flame’ has done a damned good job of creeping me the hell out.

Not that things quite start out in this fashion as at first numbers such as ‘In the Silence ov Tehom’ adopt a raw and savage approach, drums clattering away with merciless intent and vocals retching out gravid and chaotic Luciferianism. Cataclysmic, cadaverous hunger is projected as everything batters away and heads will be lopped off via scythe and sword to tumble with blood spewing gory delight. It’s all tempered by ghoulish ceremonial chanting and this is where the atmosphere is particularly effective as the cold touch of death scratches its fingernails down your spine.

Active since 2002 this quintet has been led by vocalist Xes through thick and thin with no less than over 30 past members passing through their necrotic gates. With new advocates to their coven indoctrinated in the last year or so, one has to wonder whether elder participants were themselves chopped up like fodder and put to the axe for their sinful misdemeanours. Whatever the case is, after the attacking rampage at the start of it all, things settle into a more eerie and orthodox path on ‘Fire As Breath.’ Tendrils seep out as the slower paced track dramatically rears up and takes a savage bite out of the sacrifice on this unholy altar and everything about it suggests darkest desecration. A lengthy and mainly instrumental piece ‘The Flame Burns Brighter in the Darkness’ does not detract from things and although a voiceless (bar backing chants) section could have been a bit of a gamble the spark burns bright as the dynamism of the players move from ritual to a cleansing, sulphurous blast.

Turmoil is reintroduced via ‘The Flame Burns Brighter in the Darkness’ and out of the shadows warping and weaving guitar melody whips up a flagellating storm. Vile things glisten away and knives are sharpened to stab and plummet into willing flesh. Yep this really is quite horrid in all the right ways. Mixing decimating violence with a decaying sense of unease has really paid off here and by the time we reach the climax of the title track you will feel like you have been harried by unholy spectral cloaked figures and wonder how the hell you have just about escaped from their abysmal clasp. Infernal Angels have come as messengers of death and graves have verily opened!

(8/10 Pete Woods)

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